I would like to install a second thermostat on the lower floor of my home. My thinking is that when we have guest staying on the lower floor I could turn the upper floor thermostat off and the lower on and the heater would respond to the temperature on the lower level. Would this arrangement work?
Wiring – add a second thermostat in the basement for more control
hvacthermostatwiring
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If you can stop the heat using a switch built into the thermostat, then I'd guess you've wired it correctly and your problem is that it's defective. You should call the thermostat manufacturer and describe what's going on; they'll probably send you a new unit under warranty.
There are a few things you can do which can help:
1) Adjust the dampers in the duct work. Partially close dampers in the ducts going to the first floor and fully open the ones to the second. Take some time to mark them so you know what goes where. It will probably take a few tries to get them set right. That's usually the first thing an HVAC guy will do for this situation.
2) Seal off the leaks in your duct work. Go around and find leaks and seal them with the aluminum backed tape. It's real sticky and has a peal off backing. Oddly enough, duct tape always seems to come loose on my duct work. Go figure. There are services which will come out and blow a smokey substance through your system to locate leaks and seal them.
3) This can be controversial, but you could cover your low returns in the summer and high returns in the winter. The theory is that this will pull more warm air out in the summer and more cold air out in the winter. There are magnetic covers you can get for this purpose like this:
But you may have better luck with stronger magnetic sheets and custom cut them yourself.
I'm not a fan of closing registers, but that's probably one of the simplest things to do.
There are systems that can be installed which will automatically adjust dampers in your duct work based on thermostats placed throughout the house, but they're pricey.
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Best Answer
The other issue will be that if the temperature sensor is in the basement, the upper part of the house may get too warm by the time the furnace displaces all of the cold ait in the basement. Remember, warm air RISES, so if your return air resister is not in the basement, it will be a long time before there is enough air exchange to make a difference down there.
What I would do (have done) is to add a baseboard heater as a supplemental system, with its own thermostat in the basement, along with a way to keep the basement air from rising out of the basement (i.e. stairwell door).